Amos 3:8

Amos 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
• New International Version (NIV)The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— who can but prophesy?
• English Standard Version (ESV)The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?

Context of Amos 3:8

6If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the Lord not responsible? 7Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign Lord has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy? 9Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: “Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it.” 10“They do not know how to do what is right.” (The Lord is speaking.) “They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses.

Amos 3:8 word by word

אַרְיֵ֥ה שָׁאָ֖ג מִ֣י לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ דִּבֶּ֔ר מִ֖י לֹ֥א יִנָּבֵֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The lionאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
• hath roaredשָׁאַגshâ'ag · to roarH7580
• who will notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
• hath spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• who can but prophesyנָבָאnâbâ' · to prophesyH5012

Cross-references for Amos 3:8

• Amos 3:4Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey? Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something?
• Amos 1:2Amos said: “The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.”
• Revelation 5:5Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
• Amos 2:12“But you made the Nazirites drink wine; you commanded the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy!’
• Amos 7:12Amaziah then said to Amos, “Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there!
• Job 32:18For I am full of words, and the spirit within me constrains me.
• Jeremiah 20:9Sometimes I think, “I will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.” But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.
• Acts 4:20for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
• Acts 5:20“Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.”
• 1 Corinthians 9:16For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Commentaries on Amos 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The lion hath roared - God hath sent forth a terrible alarm, Who will not fear? Can any hear such denunciations of Divine wrath and not tremble? The Lord God hath spoken - And those only who are in communion with him have heard the speech. Who can but prophesy? Who can help proclaiming at large the judgment threatened against the nation? But I think נבא naba, here, is to be taken in its natural and ideal signification, to pray, supplicate, or deprecate…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The Lion hath roared: who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken: who can but prophesy? - that is, there is cause for you to fear, when the Lord “roareth from Zion;” but if ye fear not, God‘s prophets dare not but fear. So Paul saith, “necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensation” of the Gospel “is committed unto me” 1 Corinthians…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8God, like a lion, has roared from Mount Zion (Amos 1:2) and urged Amos to prophesy (see 7:14–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. As when "the lion roars" (compare Am 1:2; Am 3:4), none can help but "fear," so when Jehovah communicates His awful message, the prophet cannot but prophesy. Find not fault with me for prophesying; I must obey God. In a wider sense true of all believers (Ac 4:20; 5:29).Read the comment

Topics related to Amos 3:8

• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Agreed
• Amos (1)
• Prophecy; Prophets
• Semites, Semitic Religion

Commentaries on Amos 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings